Culture & Entertainment

Top 6 educational YouTube channels

Culture & Entertainment

Top 6 educational YouTube channels

Laura is currently a journalism student at Ryerson University and an editorial intern at Canadian Living. She is a lover of film, literature and food.

YouTube isn't just a place to watch
cat videos. The mixed bag of content can sometimes be overwhelming. But if you know where to look, YouTube can make a great
educational tool for high school students, or anyone wanting to brush up on scientific knowledge or decipher Shakespearean jargon. Read on for our top YouTube tutorial picks. [HTML1]
Channel:CrashCourseTopics: World history, psychology, chemistry, literature, ecology and biology
Audience: Ages 13+
Length: 10 minutes
What the channel offers: CrashCourse covers a multitude of high school curriculum topics. Brothers John and Hank Green host the channel and illustrate their teachings with colourful animated diagrams. If you’re struggling to understand metaphors in
The Great Gatsbyor wondering what exactly happened during the
Second World War, this channel has what you're looking for. [HTML2]
Channel:The Brain ScoopTopics: Natural history
Audience: Ages 12+
Length: Four to eight minutes
What the channel offers: Host Emily Graslie shows viewers what goes on behind-the-scenes of the Field Museum in Chicago, where she's the chief curiosity correspondent. She offers tours and glimpses at collections that aren't on display for the public, such as the
meteorite or
unusually sized rodent collections. If dissecting a fetal pig is too boring for your teens, watching Graslie
dissect a wolf may be up their alley. [HTML3]
Channel:Piled Higher and Deeper (PHD Comics)Topics: Science
Audience: Ages 13+
Length: Two to five minutes
What the channel offers: Researchers, scientists and scholars from all around the world contribute to PHD TV's illustrated content. The science-based videos cover topics such as how
coffee affects your brain,
antibiotics and the history of the
Dead Sea Scrolls. [HTML4]
Channel:Looking Glass UniverseTopics: Quantum mechanics and calculus
Audience: Ages 17+
Length: Three to 10 minutes
What the channel offers: Beautiful drawings are used to explain the complicated world of quantum mechanics. And, if you’re itching for some feline-related content, try the Looking Glass Universe lesson explaining the paradox that is
Schrödinger’s cat. [HTML5]
Channel:MinutePhysicsTopics: Physics
Audience: Ages 13+
Length: One to three minutes
What the channel offers: Created by physicist Henry Reich, MinutePhysics's short whiteboard-illustrated videos draw an average of around 1 million views per clip. Covering topics such as how
lightbulbs work, what
sea level means and what causes
magnetic attraction, the channel is perfect for kids who always ask "why?" [HTML6]
Channel:Sexplanations.Topics: Sex education
Audience: Ages 16+
Length: Three to four minutes
What the channel offers: Host Lindsey Doe is a clinical sexologist who discusses the world of sexuality in simple terms and a positive manner. Sex education classes may not always be as effective as parents would like, but have no fear: Doe covers everything from
body image to
HIV and
consent.
Paying attention to an hour-long class may be difficult for some kids, but these
teaching aids can be a great tool. Check out the April issue of
Canadian Living to find out more ways to help cultivate your kid’s creativity.
(Feature image courtesy Stockvault)